Effects of Nanoplastics and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane on Early Zebrafish Embryos Identified by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

Nanoplastics with small particle sizes and high surface area/volume ratios easily absorb environmental pollutants and affect their bioavailability. In this study, polystyrene nano-plastic beads (PS-NPBs) with a particle size of 100 nm and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDBM) sunscreen in personal-care products were chosen as target pollutants to study their developmental toxicity and interactive effects on zebrafish embryos. The exposure period was set from 2 to 12 h postfertilization (hpf). BMDBM and PS-NPBs significantly upregulated genes related to antioxidant enzymes and downregulated the gene expression of aromatase and DNA methyl-transferases, but the influenced genes were not exactly the same. The combined exposure reduced the adverse effects on the expression of all genes. With the help of the single-cell RNA sequencing technology, neural mid cells were identified as the target cells of both pollutants, and brain development, head development, and the notch signaling pathway were the functions they commonly altered. The key genes and functions that are specifically affected by BMDBM and/or PS-NPBs were identified. BMDBM mainly affects the differentiation and fate of neurons in the central nervous system through the regulation of her5, her6, her11, lfng, pax2a, and fgfr4. The PS-NPBs regulate the expression of olig2, foxg1a, fzd8b, six3a, rx1, lhx2b, nkx2.1a, and sfrp5 to alter nervous system development, retinal development, and stem cell differentiation. The phenotypic responses of zebrafish larvae at 120 hpf were tested, and significant inhibition of locomotor activity was found, indicating that early effects on the central nervous system would have a sustained impact on the behavior of zebrafish.

Automated summary

Nanoplastics and BMDBM have significant effects on the gene expression in zebrafish embryos, with combined exposure reducing adverse effects on gene expression. Single-cell RNA sequencing technology identified neural mid cells as target cells of both pollutants, which commonly altered brain and head development functions.